Tumbler dryer



Jan. 7, 1969 B, H, FREZE l 3,419,969

TUMBLER DRYER Filed Aug. 2s, 1967 sheet of s IWIC- 5' INVENTOR. 55m/A /w//V H Fee-ZE Jan. 7, 1969 B. H. FREZE 3,419,969

TUMBLER DRYER AFiled Aug. 25, 1967 sheet 2 of 5 I NVENTOR. v fA//A/w/A/ 59525 BY Iwata Jan. 7, 1999 E. H. FREZE 3,419,969

TUMBLER DRYER Filed Aug. 23, 1967 Shee'fl of 5 United States Patent O 3,419,969 TUMBLER DRYER Benjamin H. Freze, Stanton, Calif., assignor to Challenge- Cook Bros., Incorporated, a corporation of California Filed Aug. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 662,812 U.S. Cl. 34-126 16 Claims Int. Cl. F26b 11/04 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tumbler dryer having a tumbler barrel therein and a pair of diametrically opposed pairs of access openings closed by doors and ducting arranged for entrance of drying air, principally at the periphery of the door and exit of the air at the central lower side of` the tumbler barrel. The dryer being rotatable about a horizontal axis so that the access openings may be faced vertically, horizontally or at any single therebetween for reception of fabric material to be dried or discharge of the fabric material; the doors being movable about the axis of the dryer between their open and closed positions.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to tumbler dryers, more particularly to dryers for clothes or other fabric material in which heated air is circulated through the material as it is tumbled.

Included in the subjects of this invention are:

First, to provide a tumbler dryer in which an essentially cylindrical barrel is mounted within a housing having diametrically disposed doors closing both ends of the barrel; the barrel being rotatable during its drying cycle about its axis located horizontally; the housing being rotatable about a second horizontal axis so as to tilt the barrel to a vertical position, or any intermediate position, with either end uppermost or lowermost for discharge and reception of clothes or other fabric material; thereby to provide a tumbler dryer which may be adapted to any of the various systems employed in laundry and dry cleaning establishments. I

Second, to provide a tumbler dryer of the type indicated in the first object in which the housing is provided with re-entrant cylindrical extensions at each end of the barrel immediately behind the access doors, the extensions being circular adjacent the barrel, and anovel ducting means is provided which includes discharge openings in the cylindrical extensions for most of the drying air so that the air ows axially inward for improved distribution through the clothes or fabric material which is in midair at the central region of the barrel, the incoming air also aiding movement of the fabric pieces away from the doors and into the center of the barrel.

Third, to provide a tumbler dryer wherein a selected portion of the drying air is introduced radially inwardly at the top of the barrel, and wherein the air is discharged through a novelly arranged discharge duct located in the housing under the barrel.

Fourth, to provide a tumbler dryer which, although preferably provided with diametrically disposed access doors to facilitate rapid loading or unloading of material, may be arranged with a single door if the laundry or dry cleaning system, in which the tumbler dryer is installed, requires.

Fifth, to provide a tumbler dryer which incorporates a novel door and door mounting construction in which the door is curved to conform to a cylindrical outer housing and is adapted to form a sealed connection with the housing when in its closed position, but is released from its sealed condition and clears the housing for movement Fice around the axis thereof when moved to or from its open position.

Sixth, to provide a tumbler dryer which incorporates a novelly arranged tumbler barrel including a central perforater cylindrical section having sets of tumbler ribs of different height, and joined to frusto-conical end sections terminating in cylindrical loading and unloading openings which also admit drying air.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGURE l is a front elevational view of the tumbler dryer. f

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the tumbler dryer, taken from 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end view of the blower and heater housing, taken from 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a enlarged sectional view of the tumbler dryer, taken through 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within circle 5 of FIGURE 7, showing particularly, the sealing means between the access door and the housing, with the door shown in its sealed condition.

FIGURE 6 is a similar fragmentary sectional view,

showing the door in its unsealed condition.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken through 7 7 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, showing a modified form of the access door.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view thereof, taken through 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

SPECIFICATION The tumbler dryer is mounted between a pair of end supports 1 and 2, the end support 2 also incorporating a blower and heater housing. The end supports are provided with mounting bearings 3.

The tumbler dryer includes a dryer housing 4, which is cylindrical and provided with end Walls 5, from which extend coaxial shafts 6, received in the bearings 3. The end walls 5 are joined by a cylindrical wall 7.

As shown best in FIGURES 2 and 3, the upper portion of the end wall S and the confronting side of the end support housing, are provided with aligned openings 8 and 9, and centered within the openings 8 and 9, is the drying air intake 10` and the outlet 11. The outlet 11 is connected to the discharge side of a conventional heater, not shown, located in the end support housing 2.

Located at the lower portion of the end wall 5 and confronting portion of the end support housing 2 are aligned suction openings 12 and 13 communicating with the intake end of a conventional blower, not shown, located in theend support housing 2.

The bottom side of the dryer housing near the end support 1 is provided with a cold air inlet 14 which exits through the openings 8 and 9 and is ducted by means, not shown, to the inlet side of the blower. Air from the blower exits through a stack 15.

An outside surface of the end support housing is priovided with suitable controls, not shown; or preferably,

` of the shafts 6. The tumbler barrel includes a cylindrical center section 20, having perforations 21. The center section 20 is joined at each end to a frusto-conical section 22, each of which in turn is joined to a cylindrical end band 23 forming an access opening coaxial with the reentrant walls 17 and, confronting a corresponding end surface 18. The housing 4 denes a cooling air plenum A surrounding the barrel 19, drying air duct 37 and discharge duct 36. The end surfaces 18 of the walls 17 `and the confronting ends of the tumbler barrel band 23 form clearance openings B.

The axial extremities of the center section are provided with annular track channels 24, which are engaged by sets of journal rollers 25, divided into upper and lower pairs. The rollers are mounted on bearing brackets 26 suitably supported from the walls of the dryer housing 4. Also supported from the walls of the dryer housing are thrust rollers 27 which engage the axially outer ends of the annular track channels 24. The rollers and 27 permit rotation of the tumbler barrel between the end surfaces 18 of the re-entrant walls 17. The end bands 23 are equal in diameter to and are coaxial with the re-entrant walls 17. Located externally of, yand secured to one of the frusto-conical sections 22, is a drive band 28, which receives a set of drive belts 29 driven by a motor, not shown, located within the housing 4.

Extending longitudinally within the tumbler barrel are two sets of tumbler ribs 30 and 31. The ribs 30 have a radial depth less than the radial depth of the frustoconical sections 22, whereas the ribs 31 have a greater depth and extend over the cylindrical end bands 23.

Formed within, and supported from the walls of the dryer housing 4, is a circular wall 32, which confronts the cylindrical center section 20 of the tumbler barrel, and is spaced therefrom. At its upper side, the circular wall is provided with a relatively narrow inlet port 33, and at its lower side, the circular wall is interrupted by a relatively wide outlet opening 34. Wiper blades extend from the circular wall 32 into contact with or approximately into contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical center section 20. One of the wiper blades is located at one side of the inlet slot 33, whereas a pair of wiper blades bracket the outlet opening 34.

The outlet opening 34 forms the receiving end of an outlet or vent duct 36, which extends essentially tangentially from the tumbler barrel along the lower side of the dryer housing 4, to the vent outlet 12.

An inlet duct 37 extends into the dryer housing 4 from the drying air intake 10. The inlet duct 37 extends over the upper portion of the cylindrical center section 20 of the tumbler barrel 19, and over the upper portion of the circular wall 32, including the inlet slot 33. The inlet duct extends substantially the length of the housing 4, and is provided with four lateral ducts 38, which terminate in inlet ports 39, located in the re-entrant cylindrical walls 17. Each re-entrant wall is provided with a pair of inlet ports 39, located above the axis of rotation of the tumbler barrel 19.

Each access yopening 16 is provided with a door 40. Each door is essentially square in side aspect, whereas in lateral end aspect, each door curves in conformity to the cylindrical surface of the dryer housing 4. Each door is provided with lateral arms 41 which extend to the axial ends of the housing 4, and are joined to radial arms 42, which are journalled on the end shafts 6. The intermediate portions of the mounting arms 42 are offset so as to clear the discharge air outlet 8, as indicated by dotted line in FIGURE 2. Mounted on the inside of each door is an inflatable seal 43. The lower half of each seal conforms to the curvature of the corresponding access opening 16 and its interface is preferably flush with the re-entrant wall 17, or approximately so. The upper -portion of each seal 43, especially in the region of the inlet ports 39, is recessed radially from the margin of the access opening, as indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE l, so as to minimize exposure to the hot dry air entering through the -ports 39.

Each mounting arm 42 is connected to an end wall 5 of the dryer housing 4 by a uid power unit 44, so arranged that each door may be lifted clear of the access opening, as indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 2.

One or both of the end shafts 6 is lprovided with a lever arm 45, connected to a fluid power unit 46, the other end of which is secured within the end support 1, or both end supports if two power units are used. The power unit 46 rotates the dryer housing 4, 90 in either direction, so that the tumbler barrel may be moved from a horizontal to a vertical position with either end uppermost. The power unit 46 may also position the axis of the tumbler barrel at any angle between the horizontal and the Vertical.

Operation of the tumbler dryer is as follows:

During operation of the tumbler dryer, the tumbler barrel 19 is located with its axis extending horizontally. The openings 8 and 9, 10 and 11, 12 and 13, are in registry. While a yieldable Seal may be provided between the paired openings, some loss or bypassing of air is permissible so that a slight gap may be tolerated.

Air is drawn into the blower through the cold air inlet 14. This air circulates around the outside of the inlet duct 37, lateral ducts 38 and the outlet or vent duct 36, and thus prevents excessive heating of the rollers 25 and 27 and their bearings, and also serves to cool the motor which drives the tumbler barrel. This air may flow to the intake side of the heater and mix with other air entering the heater and reenter the dryer through openings 10 and 11, or delivered to the intake of the blower and discharged.

The heated drying `air flows through the inlet duct 37. A lpredetermined portion enters the inlet slot 33, and flows through the perforations 21 into the tumbler barrel. It is preferred that a major portion of the drying air pass through the lateral ports 38 and enter through the inlet ports 39, so as to flow axially into the ends yof the tumbler barrel. The air is vented from the tumbler barrel through the outlet opening 34, and then passes through the outlet or vent duct 36, and through the openings 12 and 13 leading to the blower intake for ultimate discharge through the stack 15.

During the drying operation, the charge of clothing or other fabric material contained within the tumbler barrel, is lifted by the sets of ribs 30 and 31, so as to tumble freely in the tumbler barrel. The axially inward ow of air from the inlet ports 39 moves the clothes or fabric material axially inward away from the doors 40 and the cylindrical re-entrant walls 17.

When the drying operation is completed, the housing 14 is rotated to a suitable discharge position. This position is determined by the type of companion equipment employed. In some instances, the material is pulled manually from the dryer into portable bins. The tumbler may remain in a horizontal position and the material removed simultaneously from both ends. The tumbler barrel may be tilted to facilitate manual removal from one end, or automatic removal by turning the barrel slowly or in increments. When the material is unloaded, the lower door may be closed and a new charge may be introduced manually or from a conveyor or other device into the upper door.

The angular position of the tumbler barrel may be increased so that the charge of material may fall by gravity onto a conveyor or the like. If desired, the axis of the tumbler may be rotated to a vertical position so that the charge of material drops freely from the open lower door which is then closed so that the next charge may be dropped freely through the open upper fdoor. It will thus be seen that regardless of the method employed in handling the charge of material, the -tumbler dryer may be tilted to the position required and either `or both doors may be employed.

For some installations, only a single door is required. In this case, one end of the tumbler barrel may be closed illustrate a modified form of the Idoor control. In this case, a cross bar 47 is provided, and the door is equipped with outwardly directed slide pins 48, which extend through the cross bar. Springs 49, located between the extended ends of the slide pins and the cross bar, tend to retract the door away from the dryer housing and toward the cross bar. Located in the center of the cross bar is a fluid power unit 50, having a push yrod 51, which engages the center of the door so as to press the door against the housing 4. The periphery of the door is provided with an appropriate gasket 52. The ends of the c-ross bar 47 are joined to a pair of mounting arms 42.

In operation, the door is pressed to sealing contact with the housing during the drying cycle and is release'd so as to clear the housing when it is desired to move the door.

The seal 43 need not be inflated but merely arranged to make light contact with the confronting surface of the tumbler barrel so that the access door may be opened or closed without pinching or damaging the seal.

In order to make effective use of the openings 8 and 9, it is desirable to provide seals or partial seals at the axial ends of the tumbler barrel and in the region of the track channels 24.

Alternately, it is feasible to provide clearance at the axial ends of the tumbler barrel and around the track channels, and eliminate the openings 8 and 9. In this case, the negative pressure created within the tumbler barrel draws air th-rough the opening 14 and clearance spaces for entrainment with the main drying air. This auxiliary air is partially heated by the various motors and by the walls of the tumbler barrel.

The re-entrant wall 17 need not be truly cylindrical, but may be provided at its lower portion with deflector extensions 53 in'dicated by broken lines in FIGURES 1 and 7. The extensions serve to aid deflection of material from the doors.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

(a) a housing having space'd end walls and coaxial shafts extending therefrom for partial rotation of said housing about -a horizontal axis; said housing also having side walls connecting said end walls and an access opening including a re-entrant wall defining an axis at right angles to said rotation axis;

(b) a door for said access opening, closing the axially outward end of said re-entrant wall;

(c) a tumbler barrel within said housing including a perforated cylin'drical inner section, `and a coaxial access opening confronting said re-entrant wall;

(d) means for rotating said barrel in said housing about the axis of said re-entrant wall;

(e) la drying air duct disposed between the confronting walls of said housing and said tumbler barrel and penetrating said re-entrant wall for ow of air axially into said tumbler barrel;

(f) and a discharge duct having an entrance end exposed to the perforated section of said barrel.

2. A tumbler dryer, Ias defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

(a) drive means for rotating said housing through an essentially arc to place said access opening in a vertical upward or downwardly directed position and intermediate positions.

3. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said housing defines a cooling air plenum surrounding said barrel, drying air duct and discharge Iductg clearance openings are formed between said tumbler barrel and its housing; and `a intake opening is provided in said housing for movement of air through said plenum, to cool the contents thereof, and entrainment with said drying air through said clearance openings.

4. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said housing is provided with a pair of coaxial access openings each having a cylindrical re-entrant wall;

(b) said barrel is provided with an access opening at each end;

(c) said drying air duct communicates with each of said re-entrant walls for flow of drying air into both ends of said barrel;

(d) and a door is provided for each of the access openings in said housing.

5. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

(a) drive means is connected to said housing for turning said housing and barrel with one access opening directed downwardly and the other directed upwardly;

(b) an'd said doors are adapted for operation in sequence to discharge a preceding load and -receive a subsequent load.

6. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said barrel includes frusto-conical sections between said inner section and said access openings;

(b) and tumbler bars extend across said inner section and into said frusto-conical sections.

7. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said drying air duct includes a portion communieating with the perforated inner section of said barrel, and wiper elements engaging the outer surface of said inner section to separate the region in communication with said drying air duct and the region in communciation with said discharge duct.

8. A tumbler dryer, `as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said housing is cylindrical and said door conforms thereto;

(b) means is provided to effect a seal between said door and housing;

(c) and means is provided to rotate said door about the axis of rotation of said housing between an open rand a closed position.

9. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 8, wherein: (a) said door sealing means is an inflatable tube engageable with the margin of the access opening. 10. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 8, wherein: (a) said door sealing means includes a door sealing gasket, and means for moving said door to and from said housing.

11. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said door sealing means is a permanent door gasket in light contact with the margins of said access opening.

12. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced supports having coaxial bearings;

(b) a blower and heater housing enveloping one of said supports and including a side having a heater discharge opening and a spaced blower intake opening;

(c) a cylindrical housing having spaced en'd walls and coaxial shafts extending therefrom for partial rotation in the bearings contained in said supports, one end of said housing having a drying air inlet 7 adapted to coincide with said heater discharge open- (-d) gsaid housing also having side walls connecting said end walls and an access opening including a reentrant wall dening an axis at right angles to said rotation axis;

(e) a tumbler barrel including a perforated cylindrical inner section, and a coaxial access opening the axis of said re-entrant wall;

(f) means for rotating said barrel in said housing about the axis of said re-entrant wall (g) a drying air duct leading from said drying air inlet through said re-entrant Wall for flow axially into said tumbler barrel;

(h) a duct having an entrance end exposed to the perforated section of said barrel and an exit end conimunicatin g with said blower intake;

(i) and a door for the access opening in said housing.

13. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

(a) said housing is provided with a pair of coaxial access openings each having a cylindrical re-entrant wall;

(b) said barrel is provided with an access opening at each end;

(c) said drying air duct communicates with each of said re-entrant walls for flow of drying air into both ends of said barrel;

(d) and a door is provided for each of the access openings in housing.

14. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 13, wherein:

(a) said doors conform in curvature to the cylindrical surface;

(b) a pair of radial arms is connected to the lateral ends of each door and is journalled on said coaxial shafts for movement of each of said doors about the rotational axis of said housing;

(c) means is provided to effect a seal between said door and said housing;

(d) and means is provided on said housing to move said arms arcuately thereby to move either of said doors between a closed position and an open position.

15. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 14, wherein:

(a) means interconnects said housing and' one of said supports to rotate said housing through an arc to dispose said doors on a horizontal axis, a vertical axis or any axis therebetween.

16. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

(a) a housing structure;

(b) a tumbler barrel mounted for rotation therein, said tumbler including la pair of opposed entrance ends, and an annular perforated wall therebetween;

(c) doors for said entrance ends;

(d) and means for supplying drying air at both of said entrance ends for axial ow toward said perforated wall and `discharge therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,784,500 3/1957 Beaumont 34-133 XR 2,908,086 10/1959 Fuhring 34-133 3,064,361 11/1962 Turner 34-133 XR 3,121,621 2/1964 Jackson 34-126 3,316,658 5/1967 Strike 34-126 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

A. D. HERRMANN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. C1. XR. 

